Lavandula plant named ‘Momparler’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lavandula  plant named ‘Momparler’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely basal branching growth habit; dense and bushy plant form; greyed green and pale yellow variegated leaves; freely flowering habit; violet blue-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lavandula angustifolia.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MOMPARLER’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLavandula plant, botanically known as Lavandula angustifolia andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Momparler’.

The new Lavandula plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of anunnamed selection of Lavandula angustifolia, not patented. The newLavandula plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in March,2006 on a single plant of the parent selection within a population ofplants of the parent selection in a controlled outdoor nurseryenvironment in Aielo de Rugat, Valencia, Spain.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lavandula plant by terminal cuttings ina controlled environment in Aielo de Rugat, Valencia, Spain since March,2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Lavandula plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lavandula have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Momparler’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Momparler’ as a new and distinct Lavandulaplant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.    -   2. Freely basal branching growth habit; dense and bushy plant        form.    -   3. Greyed green and pale yellow variegated leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Violet blue-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ from plants of the parent selectionprimarily in leaf color as plants of the parent selection do not havevariegated leaves.

Plants of the new Lavandula can be compared to plants of Lavandulaangustifolia ‘Blue Royalty’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,657.Plants of the new Lavandula differ from plants of ‘Blue Royalty’primarily in leaf and flower color as plants of ‘Blue Royalty’ havegreen-colored leaves and dark purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Lavandula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Lavandula plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Momparler’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘Momparler’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of typical leavesof ‘Momparler’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown during the late summer in 10.5-cm containers in anoutdoor nursery in Aielo de Rugat, Valencia, Spain and underenvironmental conditions and cultural practices which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial Lavandula production. During the productionof the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C., night temperaturesaveraged 16° C. and light levels averaged 40 kilolux. Plants were sixmonths old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Momparler’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed    selection of Lavandula angustifolia, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days at 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 23 days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 20 days            at 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days            at 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; bone white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact and            upright plant habit; inverted triangle; moderately vigorous            growth habit; rapid growth rate.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit, dense and            bushy plant form; pinching enhances secondary branching            potential.        -   Plant height.—About 45 cm to 80 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 25 cm to 40 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: Primary branches, about            45 cm to 80 cm; secondary branches, about 25 cm. Diameter:            About 2.5 mm to 4.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm to            10.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture, young stems: Densely            pubescent. Texture, mature stems: Woody, glabrous. Color,            immature: Close to 138C. Color, mature: Close to 164B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile.            Length: About 2.5 cm to 5.5 cm. Width: About 2.5 mm to 4 mm.            Shape: Lanceolate to oblong. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Pubescent. Fragrance: Aromatic, pungent. Venation pattern:            Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 191C; towards the margins and apex, close to 2C.            Fully expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            194A; venation, close to 192B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single sessile flowers            arranged in verticillasters on spikes; freely flowering            habit, about 36 to 54 flowers per inflorescence; flowers            salverform with a two-lobed upper lip and a three-lobed            lower lip.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            May to June in Spain.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Flowers last about 40 days;            longevity of individual flowers is highly dependent on            weather conditions; flowers not persistent; terminal flower            bracts persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Very fragrant.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height: About 8 cm to 12.5 cm. Diameter:            About 1 cm to 3 cm.        -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 6.5 mm to 8 mm. Depth (height):            About 9.5 mm to 10.5 mm.        -   Petals.—Lip length from petal base to apex: About 1.1 cm to            1.2 cm. Lip width, at the base of lobe: About 1.7 mm to            2.5 mm. Lip shape: Roughly spatulate to rounded. Lip:            Rounded. Lip margin: Entire. Lip texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Pubescent. Lip color: When opening, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 94B. Fully opened, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 94B; color becoming closer to 93B with            development.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused into a star-shaped            tube. Length: About 5.3 mm to 6.3 mm. Width: About 1.8 mm to            2.2 mm. Shape: Roughly deltoid. Apex: Rounded. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,            upper surface: Close to 142A. Color, lower surface: Close to            122A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 23 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm to            2.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly erect.            Color: Close to 191B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm to 1.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5            mm to 0.6 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45°            from the peduncle axis. Color: Close to 122D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.            Filament length: About 1.5 mm to 2.3 mm. Filament color:            Close to 91A. Anther size: About 0.8 mm by 0.5 mm. Anther            shape: Roughly reniform. Anther color: Close to 163B. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 4D. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 5.4 mm to            5.6 mm. Stigma shape: Lanceolate. Stigma color: Close to            92A. Style length: About 4.5 mm to 4.8 mm. Style color:            Close to 155C to 155D. Ovary color: Close to 142C. Fruits:            Length: About 2 mm to 2.3 mm. Diameter: About 1.2 mm. Color:            Close to 199A.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Lavandula have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lavandula.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lavandula have exhibited good    tolerance to rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about −9° C.    to about 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lavandula plant named ‘Momparler’as illustrated and described.